Written Answers Wednesday 14 September 2005

Scottish Executive

Alzheimer’s Disease

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and what the projected figures are for the future.

Lewis Macdonald: Precise data on the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is not held centrally. NHS Health Scotland’s Needs Assessment Report. Dementia and Older People,  published in October 2003 (Bib. number 37331) predicted the number of people over 65 with dementia in 2005 as over 57,000; with 60% of dementia patients having Alzheimer’s disease. That report also predicted that by 2020, around 73,000 will have a dementing illness and by 2040 around 104,500.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will make its announcement on donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will consider any final recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on this matter and consider how it might apply to NHS Scotland. NICE is currently gathering further information on these drugs from the respective manufacturers.

Avian Influenza

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it considers bird flu strain H5N1 to be a threat to public health in Scotland and what steps are being taken to measure the threat and respond accordingly.

Mr Andy Kerr: Although the avian influenza virus poses a risk to birds its risk to humans is extremely limited. This is because it is very difficult to catch from birds and even more difficult to pass from human to human. The major concern is the possibility that the virus could mutate into a form that can transmit easily between humans, and thus give rise to another influenza global epidemic (a pandemic) in humans. However, the veterinary risk assessment is that the risk to the UK of avian influenza is low.

  Avian influenza is distinct from human pandemic influenza. The UK Health Department and the Scottish Executive, who are at the forefront of preparations for pandemic flu, continue to keep a close watch over developments in consultation with Health Protection Scotland, World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Health Protection Agency.

Avian Influenza

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether stocks of vaccine against avian influenza will be stocked near to areas where migratory birds arrive in Scotland.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what quantities of avian influenza vaccine will be held centrally in Scotland and what quantities will be dispersed around the country.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the quantity of avian influenza vaccine to be stockpiled in Scotland is sufficient to protect the whole population and, if not, when sufficient quantities will be stockpiled.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the lifespan is of avian influenza vaccine to be stockpiled in Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: Although the avian influenza virus poses a risk to birds its risk to humans is extremely limited. This is because it is very difficult to catch from birds and even more difficult to pass from human to human. The major concern is the possibility that the virus could mutate into a form that can transmit easily between humans, and thus give rise to another influenza global epidemic (a pandemic) in humans.

  A vaccine made from the H5N1 strain currently circulating in south east Asia may offer some protection should a pandemic strain emerge from this particular virus in the near future. While the degree of protection offered by such a vaccine could not be known prior to a pandemic, as a precautionary measure, the Scottish Executive is purchasing a small quantity of a vaccine against the current H5N1 strain. 270,000 doses for priority groups such as NHS workers have so far been ordered. The UK Pandemic Influenza Contingency Plan sets out issues around the production of specific vaccine for the virus causing pandemic flu.

  Arrangements for stockpiling of the limited quantity of H5N1 that has been ordered are still under discussion. However, when available, the vaccine will be held in Scotland in appropriate vaccine holding premises. The H5N1 vaccine will require refrigeration.

  The shelf-life of the H5N1 vaccine will be based on the results of stability testing and agreed with the licensing authority at the time of licensing.

Children and Young People

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is offering the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland to ensure that the office remains impartial and free from political pressure.

Robert Brown: The Executive provides £1.2 million per annum to the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, which has direct responsibility for supporting the commissioner’s office and activities. The commissioner was appointed by Parliament and her accountability to Parliament is set out in the commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act. The commissioner is fully independent of the Executive.

Clydesdale Bank Branch Closures

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Clydesdale Bank regarding its proposals to close branches in rural communities and whether the Executive intends to make further representations, in light of the announcement that 18 branches have been scheduled to close in Aberdeenshire alone.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive shares the concerns of communities which are facing the loss of access to banking facilities as a result of Clydesdale Bank branch closures. The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning met with Clydesdale’s Chief Operating Officer, David Thorburn, on 17 August: to relay parliamentary concerns expressed at the debate on Clydesdale branch closures on 29 June; to discuss the closures in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and to explore ways of ensuring continued access to banking services for those affected as a result of the planned closure of the 60 branches across Scotland. I understand that Clydesdale have an agreement with the Post Office whereby customers can access transactional banking services and that they have invested in both their telephone and internet banking services. If these services do not address the needs of all Clydesdale customers, then any personal or business account holder who faces difficulties in accessing banking services should approach their local Citizens Advice Bureau or local enterprise company.

  The meeting on 17 August followed a series of meetings between Jim Wallace as Deputy First Minister and Mr Thorburn which have been held throughout Clydesdale’s restructuring process. The Executive will remain in close contact with Clydesdale Bank and its parent company, National Australia Group.

Communities

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role tenants have in the local application of community ownership.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows.

  Tenants play a vital role in the application of community ownership. The landlord’s governance process must ensure that the arrangements for membership of the governing body reflect the composition of the community that the organisation serves, enable tenants and the wider community to influence the governing body and enable tenants, and the wider community if they wish, to participate in the management of the organisation.

  Social landlords are required to develop and implement a tenant participation strategy and consult with tenants groups and individual tenants on a range of issues. Landlords use a number of informal tools to seek tenant views such as conferences, focus groups or tenant satisfaction surveys.

  Where local authorities intend to put proposals to tenants for the transfer of the council’s housing into community ownership, tenants or their representatives must be consulted and involved at every stage. Scottish ministers attach great importance to the manner in which a council consults the tenants whose homes are included in a transfer proposal and ministers cannot consent to a transfer unless the majority of tenants voting in the transfer ballot support the proposals.

  More information on tenant participation can be found on Communities Scotland’s website at:

  http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_008388.hcsp#TopOfPage.

  In addition, more information on tenant involvement in the large scale stock transfer process is available on the Communities Scotland’s website at:

  http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_007154.hcsp#TopOfPage.

Compulsory Purchase Powers

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28235 by Hugh Henry on 2 September 2002, what the results are of any consultation that has been carried out on compulsory purchase powers.

Johann Lamont: The Executive has yet to undertake consultation on updating the law and procedures in relation to compulsory purchase.

Crofting

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when submissions to the recent consultation on the draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill that are not affected by a confidentiality clause will be published online.

Rhona Brankin: Responses to the consultation on the draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill have now been published on the Scottish Executive website and can be viewed at the following address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/09/08115214/52154 .

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a croft which has been purchased is still croft land and subject to crofting legislation.

Rhona Brankin: Yes. Crofting legislation applies to all croft owners on the same basis.

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether absentee croft owners are subject to absentee procedure and, if so, whether a tenant can be imposed where a croft owner is absent.

Rhona Brankin: Croft owners are not subject to the provisions of Section 22 of the Crofting (Scotland) Act 1993 which empowers the Crofters Commission to take action against absentee croft tenants. However, any croft owner (whether or not absent from the croft) could be required to re-let their croft. If having been required by the Crofters Commission to re-let the croft the owner fails to do so, then the Crofters Commission may exercise its power to advertise the tenancy for re-let.

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether croft owner-occupiers are subject to crofting statutory conditions and, if so, whether they would be obliged to take a tenant if they fail to meet these conditions.

Rhona Brankin: No.

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a croft owner-occupier can occupy more than one croft.

Rhona Brankin: Yes and there are some who do.

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a conflict of interest for the Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission to be employed by the Executive as head of the division responsible for crofting.

Rhona Brankin: The risk of a perceived or real conflict of interest was recognised at an early stage and a clear demarcation of responsibilities put in place. The Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission only undertakes some of the duties, at Head of Division level, with responsibility for crofting. His responsibilities relate to crofting policy, crofting grant schemes and the Crofting Reform Bill. Sponsorship of the Crofters Commission is separate and is the responsibility of the Head of Land Use and Rural Policy Division.

  The arrangements put in place were designed to achieve better integration of the policy responsibility for crofting issues in the department with the delivery of services to crofters by the Crofters Commission itself, as part of the transfer of Scottish Executive functions to the Crofters Commission as proposed in the draft Crofting Reform Bill and the proposed transfer of the Crofters Commission to non-departmental public body status.

Crofting

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the First Minister’s statements to the Parliament on 6 September 2005 in respect of crofting ( Official Report c. 1878), when it intends to consult crofters and crofting communities about the draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Rhona Brankin: Crofters and crofting communities were consulted on the draft bill in a full consultation which ended on 13 June 2005. There were 11 public meetings attended by crofters and crofting interests during that period. The 155 responses to that consultation are now being analysed by my officials.

  On 6 September, the First Minister said "We will discuss the detail fully with crofting interests before the Bill is introduced in its final form".

  We intend to have further discussions with appropriate individuals and groups as we finalise the Bill for introduction in the Parliament.

Drug Misuse

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients, addicted to heroin and treated with methadone, have successfully had their methadone prescriptions reduced to zero in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally.

  The redesigned Scottish Drug Misuse Database will enable collection nationally of information about patients receiving methadone as well as other types of treatment.

Drug Misuse

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been on a methadone programme in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) NHS board area.

Hugh Henry: There is no national information that reports the number of people in Scotland who are receiving methadone hydrochloride mixture for opiate dependence. However, in July 2005, National Services Scotland published estimates of the number of people receiving methadone as part of their treatment for illicit drug misuse in June-July 2002, 2003 and 2004. This information is available, broken down by NHS board only, on: http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/local/isd_methadone.pdf .

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people on methadone programmes have moved on to a drug-free lifestyle in each year since 1999.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally.

  The redesigned Scottish Drug Misuse Database will enable collection nationally of information about patients receiving methadone as well as other types of treatment.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time has been for a person to be on a methadone programme in each year since 1999.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally.

  The redesigned Scottish Drug Misuse Database will enable collection nationally of information about patients receiving methadone as well as other types of treatment.

Emergency Medical Services

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many doctors were on the register for working shifts in the Glasgow Emergency Medical Service in each of the last five years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table represents the number on the register of Greater Glasgow NHS Board for working shifts in Glasgow Emergency Medical Service centres in each of the last five years as supplied by the Greater Glasgow NHS Board.

  Number of GPs on register as at the 31 March Each Year (including locums):

  

Year
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Number of GPs on register at 31 March
448
462
479
524
509

Enterprise

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to stimulate net capital expenditure in Glasgow’s manufacturing sector.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive operates a range of measures to assist manufacturing in a number of areas, including capital expenditure. The Enterprise strategy, Smart Successful Scotland, is delivered through Local Enterprise Companies including Scottish Enterprise Glasgow.

  The Executive also provides direct financial support for eligible investment projects in the Assisted Areas of Scotland through its Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme. In the last three years, to end March 2005, 54 companies in the manufacturing sector within the Scottish Enterprise Glasgow area accepted offers of RSA totalling over £13.8 million. These offers relate to projects with planned capital expenditure of over £70.6 million and the expected creation and safeguarding of over 1,500 jobs.

  The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service - designed specifically to improve productivity in manufacturing industry - will also be introduced later this year.

Fire Service

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the pay protection for station managers in the fire service will be guaranteed until they retire.

Hugh Henry: Conditions of service for employees of fire and rescue authorities, including pay, are primarily a matter for negotiation between the local authority employers and the relevant staff representative bodies under the auspices of the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services. The Scottish Executive has no direct role. Joint Circular NJC/12/05 issued by the NJC contains information on pay protection arrangements and can be accessed at  http://www.lg-employers.gov.uk/conditions/fire/joint.html .

Ministry of Defence

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be given to Unst, in light of the Ministry of Defence withdrawal from the island and the consequent economic and social impact of the loss of civilian jobs and around 200 of the 700 residents of the island.

Nicol Stephen: Shetland Enterprise will establish a dedicated response team, based on Unst, to take forward a strategy and actions to mitigate the impact of job losses. An Economic Impact Assessment and North Isles skills audit has also been commissioned and this will help to focus the team’s work. This will further enhance the work already being driven by the community, as part of the Executive’s Iomairt aig an Oir/Initiative at the Edge Partnership programme.

  Direct support for those facing redundancy will be provided through the Executive’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) framework.

NHS Funding

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider writing off the accumulated debts of NHS boards and, in particular, NHS Grampian’s debt of £10.7 million.

Mr Andy Kerr: In a statement to Parliament on 19 May 2005, I announced my intention to dissolve NHS Argyll and Clyde and clear the board’s accumulated deficit up to a maximum of £80 million. (The board currently have an accumulated deficit of £59.492 million and this is expected to rise to £72.541 million by 31 March 2006). The reasons for my decision on the dissolution and clearing of the debt are clearly set out in the Report of Discussion about the Public Consultation on Redrawing NHS Boundaries in Argyll and Clyde .

  With respect to NHS Grampian, the board are forecasting an £8.1 million deficit for the current financial year. However, the board have agreed a financial recovery plan with the department which demonstrates a return to financial balance in 2006-07.

  I have repeatedly said that I expect all NHS boards to live within their allocated resources. Where they have deficits, these should be cleared by their own recovery plans, as is the case with NHS Grampian.

NHS Funding

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to measure the public benefit of the new NHS consultant contracts.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive issued a Health Department Letter (HDL(2005)28) on delivering the benefits of Pay Modernisation in July 2005. The HDL asked boards to submit Pay Modernisation Benefits Delivery Plans by 30 September 2005. This will allow the department to measure the effective delivery of the three strands of pay modernisation (Consultant Contract, Agenda for change and General Medical Services contract).

  The Pay Modernisation Team are working with Audit Scotland who are currently undertaking an audit of the implementation of the consultant contract and a full report is expected to be published early in 2006.

  The Executive hold an annual review with each health board. These reviews are held in public and are this year conducted by the Minister for Health and Community Care. Due to its high priority, Pay Modernisation is one of the items which boards are specifically asked to cover in their review.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average gross remuneration of consultants in the NHS was in each of the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the average gross remuneration of consultants in the NHS in the last three years is given in the table. Latest available data is at 31 March 2005.

  Average Gross Remuneration (£) of Consultants in NHS Scotland

  

 
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Consultant/Public Health Medicine
76,622
85,704
101,422



  Source: Scottish Standard Payroll System.

  Notes:

  1. Average gross remuneration is calculated using total cost divided by whole-time equivalent staff who were in post for the full financial year. Information for staff who joined or left part way through the year have been excluded. Honorary consultants have also been excluded.

  2. Total cost: gross salary (basic salary plus overtime, enhancements and allowances etc) plus employers’ national insurance and superannuation.

  3. Whole-time equivalent is calculated by dividing the number of contracted hours/sessions by the normal conditioned hours.

  4. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest pound.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits to public health have been achieved through the new NHS consultant contracts.

Mr Andy Kerr: The service benefits arising from implementation of the new NHS consultant contract, including the delivery of public health, will be outlined in the initial Pay Modernisation Benefits Delivery Plans now being prepared by NHS boards. These are due for finalisation by 30 September 2005 and will allow assessment of the benefits being realised in all areas of service delivery as a result of the new contracts.

Nutrition

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken or commissioned any research into the links between diet and antisocial behaviour in children.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has not undertaken or commissioned any research which looks specifically at the links between diet and antisocial behaviour in children. However, the Food Standards Agency are currently undertaking a project on "Chronic and acute effects of artificial colourings and preservatives on children’s behaviour", which is likely to be relevant. This is due to be completed in March 2007. See website for details: www.food.gov.uk/science/research/researchinfo/foodcomponentsresearch/allergyresearch/t07programme/t07projectlist/t07040/ .

Police

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary are eligible for retirement in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  

Year
No. of Officers Eligible to Retire


2005-06
13


2006-07
10


2007-08
11


2008-09
15

Police

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unfilled vacancies for police officers there are in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and at what level.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. The management of vacancies in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary is a matter for the Chief Constable.

Police

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made in respect of police staffing levels in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Cathy Jamieson: Since the practice of setting establishments was abolished in 1996, police staffing levels have been a matter for each Chief Constable.

  The levels of Police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocated to Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary in 2006-07 and 2007-08 are shown in the following table.

  

2006-07
£29.1 million


2007-08
£30.5 million



  GAE levels for 2008-09 and future years will be considered as part of the next Spending Review.

Police

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers in Lothian and Borders police are eligible for retirement in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008, broken down by division.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is shown, by force, in the following table:

  

Year
No. of Officers Eligible to Retire


2005-06
109


2006-07
69


2007-08
89


2008-09
96

Police

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unfilled vacancies for police officers there are in Lothian and Borders police and at what level, broken down by division.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. The management of vacancies in Lothian and Borders Police is a matter for the Chief Constable.

Police

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made in respect of police staffing levels in Lothian and Borders police in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Cathy Jamieson: Since the practice of setting establishments was abolished in 1996, police staffing levels have been a matter for each Chief Constable.

  The levels of Police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocated to Lothian and Borders Police in 2006-07 and 2007-08 are shown in the following table.

  

2006-07
£185.4 million


2007-08
£195.2 million



  GAE levels for 2008-09 and future years will be considered as part of the next Spending Review.

Police

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the written answer to question S2W-18331 by Cathy Jamieson on 16 August 2005, what the "robust response" by the Scottish Police Service will consist of.

Cathy Jamieson: Chief constables have been very explicit about the seriousness with which racial attacks and harassment are treated. Scotland’s eight police forces continue to work together to ensure that contingency plans are in place for any eventuality. That includes high profile patrols dedicated to areas of particular concern.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that public procurement policies were adhered to during the tendering process for the Scottish Intelligence Database system in 2001.

Cathy Jamieson: The procurement was carried out in full accordance with European Union procurement rules under the Open Procurement procedures. This included advertising in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Intelligence Database system was installed on time.

Cathy Jamieson: Yes.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Intelligence Database system was operational on time.

Cathy Jamieson: Yes.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which police force led the exercise, on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Scottish Police Service, of inviting tenders for the Scottish Intelligence Database system.

Cathy Jamieson: Strathclyde Police.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers were involved in the decision to award the final contract for the Scottish Intelligence Database.

Cathy Jamieson: The decision to award the contract was made by Strathclyde Police on behalf of the Scottish Police Service and was approved by Strathclyde Joint Police Board. Ministers were not involved in the decision making process.

Police

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were applied in the selection of a winning bid for the tender for the Scottish Intelligence Database.

Cathy Jamieson: All bids were assessed on the basis of the following weighted criteria: User Functionality (35%), Technical (25%), Timescales (5%), Training (5%) and Price (30%).

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or the successful tenderers are responsible for the costs of security for the M74 project in providing security cover to cater for the risk of disruption and violence which may be caused by demonstrators against the project.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answers to question S2W-10252 on 22 September 2004 and question S2W-13781 on 8 February 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Rural Development

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend or replace the Rural Challenge Fund.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans at present to extend or replace the Rural Challenge Fund.

  In 2004, a review and full consultation exercise was carried out on the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF). We are considering the outcome of that review and the fit of the SRPF in the context of our wider rural policy and range of support mechanisms. An announcement about future arrangements will be made in due course.

Rural Development

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when any changes to the Rural Challenge Fund will come into effect.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans at present to extend or replace the Rural Challenge Fund. An announcement about future arrangements will be made in due course.

Schools

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of schools have been involved in Enterprise in Education in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: The review of Education for Work and Enterprise ( Determined to Succeed , or DtS) published in December 2003 concluded, among other things, that young people’s access to enterprise in education across Scotland was limited and variable. In our subsequent DtS strategy, we undertook to ensure that all pupils in Scotland’s schools have the opportunity for enterprise activities on an annual basis. We began to deliver DtS in summer 2003 with 10 pathfinder local authorities, extending delivery across all local authorities from summer 2004.

  While we do not have available the percentage of schools delivering enterprise in education over the last three years, we have set a target of delivering all the recommendations in DtS by summer next year. We are working closely with all local authorities to that end and shall make available the information sought when we report on delivery later in 2006.

Schools

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has commissioned in respect of physical activity in schools.

Mr Andy Kerr: Since the publication of the National Physical Activity Strategy in 2003, the Executive and its Agencies have commissioned a wide range of research and evaluation studies into physical activity in schools. These include the Physical Activity in Scottish Schoolchildren (PASS) study, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) in Scotland study,  sportscotland’s evaluation of Active Schools and research into the effectiveness of the School Travel Co-ordinator initiative.

  In addition, the Physical Activity Strategy’s recommendation of two hours PE per week is being implemented through the PE Review and Scottish Executive Education Department Analytical Services Unit has gathered baseline statistical data from all local authority schools in Scotland on current timetabled PE. The information is being analysed and the data is expected to be available in October 2005.

  Research has also been commissioned through Learning Teaching Scotland to take forward policy on physical activity within early years and pre-school and provide guidance on physical activity for children in early years settings, including nurseries, playgroups and childminders.

  The Scottish Health Survey is used to monitor overall levels of physical activity in Scotland. The last published data was collected in 1998 and this showed that half of all children (aged 2-<16) in Scotland do less than the minimum needed for health. The survey was repeated in 2002-03 and the results will tell us whether levels of physical activity have changed since 1998. This new data will be published in November 2005.

  The approach we are taking and the excellent progress being made to address the problem of physical inactivity in Scotland has been commended by both UK and international experts in physical activity and health, including the World Health Organization. Experts from the UK, Australia and Brazil, who participated in a recent physical activity workshop in Scotland, have commented that both nationally and internationally the work on physical inactivity being undertaken by the Scottish Executive is highly regarded and frequently used as an example of ‘best practice’ in this new field of practice.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) it and (b) non-departmental public bodies spent on advertising in 2004-05, broken down by media type.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Mr Tom McCabe: Information on non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is not held centrally by the Executive. NDPBs are responsible for the management and monitoring of their own budgets and spending on advertising is an operational matter for them to manage within their overall budget provision.

  The advertising spend for the Scottish Executive by media type for 2004-05 is listed in the following table.

  

Media
TV
£1,834,251.05


Radio
£1,142,097.57


Cinema
£137,351.33


Press
£1,385,071.96


Outdoor/Ambient
£1,361,067.95


Online
£79,889.65


Total
£5,939,729.51


Research
Total
£443,803.80


Agency Fees
Total
£636,977.29


Production
Total
£2,524,401.44


Advertising Total
£9,544,912.04

Scottish Executive Funding

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which exhibition and conference centres have received capital support and how much each has received.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has not provided capital support to Scotland’s exhibition and conference centres. I understand that support has been provided by Scottish Enterprise, details of such support are a matter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Executive Funding

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which exhibition and conference centres have received revenue support from it or any of its agencies in the last three financial years and how much each has received.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has not provided revenue support to Scotland’s exhibition and conference centres. I understand that such support has been provided by Scottish Enterprise, details of such support are a matter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Executive Funding

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider giving revenue and capital support, either directly or indirectly, to the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to provide revenue or capital support to the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Student Loans

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many letters to university and college graduates have been issued in respect of the graduate endowment.

Nicol Stephen: Forty-five thousand, four hundred and fifty-eight letters have been issued to university and college graduates in respect of the graduate endowment.

Student Loans

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total amount of money is that ministers have billed university and college graduates for in respect of the graduate endowment.

Nicol Stephen: As at 1 April 2005, £3,820,000 has been billed to university and college graduates in respect of their possible Graduate Endowment liability.

Student Loans

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of graduate endowment funding it expects to recover.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive expects recovery of all graduate endowment due.